Scottish Executive

Anti-Social Neighbours

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to strengthen enforcement measures against anti-social neighbours.

Mr Jim Wallace: The introduction of interim Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO) through the current Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill will provide more immediate protection from anti-social neighbours. Breach of an interim ASBO will be a criminal offence punishable by up to five years imprisonment on indictment.

  This reinforces measures such as the "probationary tenancy" introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, new grounds for eviction for anti-social behaviour and additional powers for the police to seize noise-making equipment introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

  As well as promoting best practice in tackling anti-social behaviour, the Executive has allocated £20 million over two years from 2004 on community wardens who will work with local people to build safe, strong communities and support enforcement by the police, local authorities and other agencies.

Architecture

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24133 by Dr Elaine Murray on 28 March 2002, whether the annual Scottish Award for the best publicly-funded building will be awarded in 2003; if so, what consultation there will be regarding the award and the process to be followed in relation to it, and whether buildings constructed under private finance initiatives and public private partnership schemes will be eligible for consideration for the award.

Dr Elaine Murray: The introduction of the annual Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Award for Best Building in Scotland in 2002 which promotes good architecture in both private and public sectors has lessened the need for a further high profile Scottish based buildings award. Scottish public sector projects are also eligible for the annual Prime Minister's Better Public Buildings Award which is a UK-wide award scheme. The commitment to introduce an additional Scottish award for the best publicly-funded building remains under review, although I have no plans at present to launch the award in 2003.

Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the task force reviewing the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 will be published.

Peter Peacock: It had originally been envisaged that the independent task group would report to ministers by the end of 2002. However, as a result of a number of new licensing proposals contained in responses to the task group’s consultation exercise and other issues ministers have subsequently asked it to consider, we anticipate that the task group will report in spring 2003.

Cycling

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging people to cycle as an alternative to travelling by car.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has adopted the targets of the UK National Cycling Strategy, to double the number of bicycle trips made between 1996 and 2002, then double that figure by 2012. This is included in the Programme for Government for Scotland.

  In order to achieve this target, additional resources have been provided to Scottish local authorities from the Public Transport Fund, which can be used for improving local cycling facilities. The Executive has also made grants to the cycle charity Sustrans to develop the National Cycle Network (NCN) in Scotland, in addition to providing works through the Trunk Roads Cycling Initiative for trunk road sections of the NCN.

  The Executive chairs the Scottish Cycle Forum, which was set up to identify opportunities for improving the cycling environment within Scotland and for encouraging bicycle use, both as a means of transport and for leisure purposes.

  Furthermore, the Executive’s current travel awareness campaign, Learn to Let Go, aims to increase the number of journeys made by cycling, walking and public transport and to encourage more sensible use of the car.

Digital Technology

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted any mapping exercise to determine levels of demand for broadband connection and, if so, what areas have been identified that will not have access to asymetric digital subscriber line technology in the foreseeable future.

Iain Gray: We are currently commissioning research to provide a "forward look" on the broadband market, and the impact of our broadband strategy in Scotland. This will include a projection of geographical coverage.

Digital Technology

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to provide any subsidy for the delivery of broadband via satellite systems to areas that will not have access to asymetric digital subscriber line technology in the foreseeable future.

Iain Gray: Subsidy is currently available from Highlands and Islands Enterprise on a selective basis to satellite broadband users in the Highlands and Islands. The trial, along with similar smaller local enterprise company schemes in the south of Scotland, will be evaluated (over a number of business uses) to determine the overall applicability of this broadband delivery mechanism to businesses.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to address cannabis-induced psychosis.

Hugh Henry: Guidance to medical professionals, Managing Incidental Drug Misuse and Alcohol Problems in Mental Health Care Settings , recommends that drug misuse is covered in assessments of patients with mental health problems. The Guidelines on Clinical Management of Drug Misuse and Dependence recommend that psychiatric issues should form part of assessments of patients seeking help with drug problems.

  Further guidance on developing integrated care services for drug misusers was published in October last year, and one of the aims of integrated care is to combine and coordinate all services to meet the assessed needs of drug misusers, including mental health aspects. We are also working with the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse to look further into the needs of drug misusers with underlying mental health problems.

  Our Know the Score booklet on cannabis includes a description of the risks to mental health posed by this drug. The booklet has been given wide distribution. Anyone who is concerned about the effects of cannabis on mental health can also contact the free and confidential Know the Score Informationline to speak to trained operators.

Environment

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental assessment has been made of the impact of trials being carried out by the Central Science Laboratory with the chemical T3327 at the Dundrennan range in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Allan Wilson: An environmental assessment was included in the Central Science Laboratory’s application for authorisation for an experimental permit. It included an assessment of the risks posed to the environment and to non-target species, and the methods of minimising such risks.

  Since baits were removed after the trial and the formulation of T3327 used in the trial is designed to biodegrade rapidly, there will be no significant or long-term contamination to the environment.

Environment

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Dumfries and Galloway Council was notified of trials being carried out by the Central Science Laboratory with the chemical T3327 at the Dundrennan range in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Allan Wilson: This is an operational matter for the Central Science Laboratory. I understand, however, that Dumfries and Galloway Council was not notified about the trial because the trial did not appear to impact on its interests.

Firearms

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who represents Scotland on the Firearms Consultative Committee.

Mr Jim Wallace: A senior official from the Scottish Executive Justice Department and a chief officer from a Scottish police force are the members from Scotland who attend the Firearms Consultative Committee.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-31980. S1W-31981, S1W-31982 and S1W-31984 by Ross Finnie on 10 December 2002, how these answers are consistent with the terms of Article 155.3 of the Spanish fisheries chapter of the 1985 Act of Accession which states that the European Council "acting unanimously on a proposal from the European Commission shall determine, where appropriate, the possibilities and conditions of mutual access to the respective fishing zones and to the resources thereof".

Ross Finnie: Fisheries is a matter for Qualified Majority Voting, as stipulated in Article 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. The legal interpretation of Article 155.3 of the Fisheries chapter of the 1985 Iberian Act of Accession is that it, and the unanimity to which it refers, applies solely to the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, with which Article 155 in its entirety is concerned.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-31980. S1W-31981, S1W-31982 and S1W-31984 by Ross Finnie on 10 December 2002, how these answers are consistent with the terms of Articles 6 and 154.1 of the Spanish fisheries chapter of the 1985 Act of Accession which protect certain parts of the act in provisions of EU law that may not be amended, suspended or repealed other than by recourse to treaty amendment procedures.

Ross Finnie: Article 6 of the 1985 Iberian Act of Accession refers to suspending, amending or repealing its provisions. Article 154.1 of the same refers to the fact that Chapter 4 applies to the fisheries sector. Neither of these articles in any way conflicts with the fact that, as stated in the answers given to questions S1W-31980, S1W-31981, S1W-31982 and S1W-31984, fisheries is a matter for Qualified Majority Voting, as stipulated by the Treaty establishing the European Community, Article 37.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought any legal opinion on whether the interpretation of the review clause in EEC Regulation 3760/1992 must be circumscribed by other provisions of EU law that are not open to amendment, suspension or repeal other than by recourse to treaty amendment procedures or by other provisions of the acquis communautaire that may not be decided without the unanimous consent of the member states.

Ross Finnie: Article 14.2 in Regulation 3760/1992 stipulates 31 December 2002 as the date by which the Council was to decide on access arrangements to follow the arrangements for six- to 12-mile limits and the Shetland Box defined in Articles 6 and 7 of the same Regulation. Our legal advice is that this date is valid as the expiration date of the regime defined in Articles 156–164 of the Iberian Act of Accession. Regulation 3760/1992 was established via Qualified Majority Voting (QMV), and any amendments to it or new Regulations in the domain of fisheries are also subject to QMV, as stipulated by Article 37 of the Treaty establishing European Community.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, in leading a UK delegation, would have a right of veto on the current Common Fisheries Policy review package should evidence emerge that the European Commission had incompetently invited the European Council to rely on illegal decision-making procedures to overturn provisions of EU law that were protected by unanimity or by treaty amendment procedures.

Ross Finnie: All fisheries matters, including legislation undertaken under the Common Fisheries Policy, are subject to Qualified Majority Voting under the terms of the Treaty establishing the European Community. It is for the European Court of Justice to decide whether or not Council regulations are competent.

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to place an order for the construction of a fisheries protection vessel in the near future.

Ross Finnie: No order is planned to be placed in the immediate future.

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the age profile is of the vessels in the current fisheries protection fleet.

Ross Finnie: The age profile of the vessels in the fisheries protection fleet is as follows:

  

 

Year of Launch 
  



Westra


1975 
  



Sulisker


1980 
  



Vigilant


1982 
  



Norna


1987

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the modernisation and expansion of the fisheries protection fleet to meet changes to the Common Fisheries Policy and its management regimes.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency has a planned replacement programme for its vessels to meet its enforcement needs. The first part of that programme is under way with the replacement of FPV Westra in July 2003.

Fisheries

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the maintenance, repair and refit of the fisheries protection fleet in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01.

Ross Finnie: The costs of maintenance, repair and refit of the fisheries protection fleet in 1999-2000 and 2000-01 were as follows:

  


1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  



£1,077,408 
  

£868,457 
  



(for six vessels) 
  

(for five vessels)

Fisheries

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of the maintenance, repair and refit of the fisheries protection fleet in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05 and (d) 2005-06.

Ross Finnie: For the current year 2002-03, the estimated cost of maintenance, repair and refit of the five vessels of the fisheries protection fleet is expected to be in the region of £1,340,000. A provision of £950,000 per annum for four vessels remaining in the fleet has been allocated for these costs in each of the years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the number of people suffering from impingement syndrome of the shoulder and whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government about the recognition of the syndrome as a prescribed disease for the purpose of industrial injuries disablement benefit, given the impact any such recognition would have on health and social justice issues.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information derived from the Continuous Morbidity Recording (CMR) system based on a sample of Scottish General Practices estimates that approximately 500 individuals were seen in respect of impingement syndrome of the shoulder in the year ending December 2001.

  The Executive has no plans to make representations to HM Government about this syndrome.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31958 by Malcolm Chisholm on 9 December 2002, whether £3,689,000 is still the forecast full-year overspend by Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in the light of the recent findings of the support team investigation into the trust’s finances.

Malcolm Chisholm: Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is currently forecasting a year end overspend of £4,724,000, based on the November financial report.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any contracts by or on behalf of the NHS have been entered into, or will now be entered into, with Life Resources Incorporated following the purchase of the company by the Department of Health.

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations between it and the Department of Health regarding future access to plasma stored by Life Resources Incorporated have already taken place or are planned for the future.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) has its own independent sources of non-UK plasma and keeps these under constant review.

  Life Resources is one of a number of commercial US plasma supply organisations which would be treated no differently from other commercial suppliers which might compete to supply plasma.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been set aside for the purchase by the NHS of plasma from foreign countries in (a) each of the last three years, (b) the current year and (c) future years and whether it has any plans to modify the allocation of such current and future resources following the purchase of Life Resources Incorporated by the Department of Health.

Mr Frank McAveety: Expenditure set aside for the purchase of plasma for fractionation is as follows:

  (a) 1999-2000: £5.3 million, 2000-01: £5.7 million and 2001-02: £4.6 million.

  (b) 2002-03: £5.3 million.

  (c) 2003-04: £5.8 and 2004-05: £5.8 million.

  The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service has plasma contracts with German and US suppliers until 2004-05 and there are no plans to modify the allocation of current resources.

  I also refer the member to the answers given to S1W-32793 and S1W-32795 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations were undertaken with it regarding the purchase of Life Resources Incorporated by the Department of Health and what representations it made in response.

Mr Frank McAveety: Neither the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) nor the Scottish Executive was involved at any level in the decision by the Department of Health in England to purchase Life Resources Incorporated.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is measuring the impact that the 44 healthy living centres are having on health improvements in areas of poverty and deprivation.

Malcolm Chisholm: External evaluation of the Healthy Living Centre (HLC) programme is being conducted at two levels. New Opportunities Fund (NOF) has commissioned the Bridge Consortium to undertake a UK-wide evaluation and the Scottish Executive Health Department has commissioned the Research Unit in Health and Behavioural Change (RUHBC) and the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, both within Edinburgh University, to conduct an independent evaluation of the HLC programme in Scotland.

  It is also a condition of funding that HLCs themselves undertake self-evaluation to monitor progress towards the fulfilment of key pre-defined outcomes which relate both to the local community and to those who use the facilities and resources provided by the HLC.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why NHS 24, free personal care and the Care Commission are mentioned twice as both targets and achievements on pages 52, 54 and 55 of Recording Our Achievements .

Malcolm Chisholm: Record of Achievement reports in full on progress on all the commitments in the two complimentary Programme for Government documents ( Making it Work Together  and Working together for Scotland).  It is open and transparent acknowledging successes as well as slower progress. NHS 24 is referred to on pages 52 and 54 reflecting that this commitment featured in both of the Programme for Government documents. The provision of free personal care is featured on pages 54 and 55 reflecting that this policy has contributed significantly to the achievement of two separate Programme for Government commitments.

Health Technology Board for Scotland

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the establishment of the Health Technology Board for Scotland, as referred to on page 52 of Recording Our Achievements , has achieved the end of "postcode prescribing".

Malcolm Chisholm: The Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) helped to reduce inequalities in health services across Scotland by providing consistent, evidence-based advice to NHS boards in the form of three Health Technology Assessments, 30 HTBS Comments on NICE guidance and through its support of the Scottish Medicines Consortium. No organisation on its own can end "postcode prescribing". However, NHSScotland is expected to take account of advice and evidence from HTBS (now part of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium and ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need.

  Any evidence that suggests that NHSScotland is not taking account of this advice or evidence will be followed up proactively by the Scottish Executive Health Department.

Hepatitis C

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations of the (a) expert group on financial and other support for NHS injury and (b) Health and Community Care Committee's Report of Hepatitis C it plans to adopt in respect of financial recompense for people infected by hepatitis C as a result of blood transfusions.

Malcolm Chisholm: I will write to the member with the answer on this and will place copies in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Higher Education

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to increase the number of overseas students studying at universities.

Iain Gray: The Prime Minister's initiative, launched in June 1999, aims to attract more overseas students to the UK. The Scottish Executive is involved with the funding and development of the strategy in partnership with other devolved administrations, UK government departments, British Council and Trade Partners UK. Measures to enhance overseas student recruitment as part of PMI include a three-year branded global marketing campaign, expansion of the Chevening scholarship scheme and streamlining visa and work regulations. A Scottish version of the brand logo and marketing materials has been developed for use by Scottish institutions and EducationUKScotland as part of the PMI strategy.

  In addition, EducationUKScotland (formerly Scottish Education and Training) is a sector-led body supported and funded by institutions in four sectors, including the higher education sector, and also by the British Council Scotland. The Scottish Executive maintains close links with EducationUKScotland. The organisation’s main objective is to add value in the area of international student recruitment by promoting Scotland overseas and providing generic support for the work of Scottish institutions.

  The area of international student recruitment is also being considered as part of the Scottish Higher Education Review.

Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students successfully completed a higher education course solely at a higher education institution in each year since 1990.

Iain Gray: The number of students graduating from higher education (HE) courses in higher education institutions (HEI) since 1990 has been:

  Graduates and Diplomates from HE Courses in HEIs 1990-91 to 2000-01

  


Year 
  

Total 
  



1990-91 
  

23,477 
  



1991-92 
  

25,449 
  



1992-93 
  

27,311 
  



1993-94 
  

30,256 
  



1994-95 
  

33,428 
  



1995-96 
  

37,412 
  



1996-97 
  

37,546 
  



1997-98 
  

40,908 
  



1998-99 
  

38,800 
  



1999-2000 
  

42,308 
  



2000-01 
  

41,728 
  



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32365 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 December 2002, whether it will be an offence in Scotland under clauses 59 and 69 of the Criminal Justice Bill for an internet service provider providing a service in Scotland to allow for the downloading of material from a foreign server that breaches the reporting restrictions contained in those clauses.

Mr Jim Wallace: In Scotland, the police, the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service are responsible for dealing with suspected offences. If the provisions on reporting restrictions in the Criminal Justice Bill are enacted it would be for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, where the police report alleged offences, to determine whether prosecution was appropriate, taking into account all relevant factors.

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32366 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 December 2002, whether courts have any power to prevent the importation of a print publication from the European Union or its distribution where it includes a report in contravention of the reporting restrictions in clauses 59 or 69 of the Criminal Justice Bill.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Criminal Justice Bill does not include powers to prohibit the importation of material containing a prohibited report contrary to the reporting restrictions in clauses 59 and 69. As indicated in the answer to question S1W-32366, it is the proprietor, editor or publisher of the print publication who would be liable for any breach of the restrictions.

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32366 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 December 2002, what is meant by "normal circumstances" in addition to prosecutions under clauses 59 and 69 of the Criminal Justice Bill.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is anticipated that print publications from other states of the European Union would be imported on a UK-wide basis. As any breach of reporting restrictions would relate to criminal proceedings in England and Wales, it would normally be that enforcement would be through courts in that jurisdiction.

Landfill Tax

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government regarding any replacement of the landfill tax credit scheme and whether it is aware of whether the current scheme will be replaced from 1 April 2003.

Ross Finnie: Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with colleagues in Whitehall departments about a wide range of waste-related issues, including the reform of the landfill tax credit scheme.

  As stated in the Chancellor's pre-Budget report 2002 Her Majesty's Government intends to reform the current Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. It is proposed that this will involve the establishment of a public spending scheme for sustainable waste management for approximately two-thirds of the monies raised as well as the retention of a smaller tax credit scheme for local community environmental projects.

  The operation of a public spending scheme in Scotland will be a matter for the Scottish Executive.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 4 October 2002 regarding my constituent G Banks of Maud, Aberdeenshire.

Ross Finnie: I replied to the member on 9 January 2003.

NHS Boards

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the reduction in bureaucracy achieved by streamlining NHS boards, as referred to on page 54 of Recording Our Achievements , and what the subsequent financial savings were.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30723 on 18 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

NHS Funding

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual budgets have been for each NHS trust within the Argyll and Clyde NHS Board area in each year from 1999-2000 to date.

Malcolm Chisholm: Allocations are made to NHS boards and not the individual trusts. Argyll and Clyde Health Board received the following allocations:

  


Financial Year 
  

Allocation Received
(£000) 
  



1999-2000 
  

396,906 
  



2000-01 
  

430,583 
  



2001-02 
  

456,986 
  



2002-03* 
  

475,936 
  



  Note:

  *Not full year allocation (to October 2002).

  The distribution of these funds between the trusts is a matter for the board and trusts to negotiate.

  However, the following data has been extracted from the board accounts:

  

 

Argyll and Clyde Acute
(£000) 
  

Lomond and Argyll PCT
(£000) 
  

Renfrewshire and Inverclyde PCT
(£000) 
  

Trust Total
(£000) 
  



2001-02 
  

142,489 
  

87,165 
  

151,527 
  

381,181 
  



2002-03 
  

148,866 
  

90,664 
  

158,099 
  

397,629

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the local recruitment policy operated by Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in relation to personnel from abroad is in keeping with employment legislation.

Malcolm Chisholm: Recruitment policies are matters for the relevant NHS bodies, in this case NHS Argyll and Clyde, who must satisfy themselves that practice is consistent with current employment legislation. The Health Department is not aware of any conflict between recruitment policies operated locally by the NHS in Argyll and Clyde and the legislation. The new interim management team, whose appointment to NHS Argyll and Clyde I announced on 17 December, will review approaches to staff recruitment and retention across the board area.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all NHS staff will be able to access family-friendly policies, as referred to on page 53 of Recording Our Achievements , as part of their work environment and employment contract.

Malcolm Chisholm: Guidance on Family Friendly Policies was prepared in partnership with the service, trade unions and the professions, and published in January 2000. It is intended to review the guidance later this year. The guidance underpins the Staff Governance Standard and all NHS Scotland Employers are required to meet or exceed it. Employers’ progress towards meeting the guidance will be part of the annual Staff Governance Standard audit process.

Parliamentary Questions

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-31475 and S1W-31964 by Dr Elaine Murray on 22 November and 9 December 2002 respectively, why the Chief Executive of Historic Scotland provided a response to these questions and not the minister.

Dr Elaine Murray: It is normal practice for questions relating to operational matters to be referred to the Chief Executive of an Executive Agency. Historic Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Executive and the questions referred to related to operational matters.

  It may be helpful to point out that the Scottish Executive’s Guidance on Scottish Parliamentary Questions – Preparation of Answers, states in paragraphs 58 and 59 – Questions about Scottish Executive Agencies: "In response to a written question on 28 July 1999 the First Minister indicated that where a question relates to operational matters it should be referred to the Chief Executive to prepare the substance of the response. The question should then be answered as follows:

  "I have asked [name], [Chief Executive] of [Agency] to respond. His/her response is as follows: "Text of response."

Parliamentary Questions

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the transparency of responses provided in answers to parliamentary questions by Historic Scotland.

Dr Elaine Murray: Historic Scotland is an agency of the Scottish Executive Education Department. Replies to parliamentary questions on operational matters are given by the Chief Executive on behalf of Scottish ministers under delegated authority but in all other respects the agency follows the same procedures as the rest of the Scottish Executive.

People with Disabilities

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance or support is available to parents of young disabled people that wish to modify their family home to facilitate the transition process to adulthood.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Financial assistance is available towards the costs of adaptations to the home of a permanent nature (e.g. special bathing arrangements) and for the provision of specialist aids and equipment (e.g. removable stair lifts). In the case of privately rented or owner occupied housing the landlord or owner occupier is expected to meet the costs of adaptations to the home but may be eligible for grant aid from the local authority.

  Support and advice on all cases is provided by the Social Work Departments of local authorities.

Prescription Charges

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost to the NHS is of an (a) homeopathic, (b) generic and (c) branded prescription.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table lists the average costs of a prescription item for each category in the financial year 2001-02.

 Prescription Type   Cost Per Item Homeopathic   £3.75 Generic   £10.07 Branded   £15.30   

  These data refer to NHS prescriptions dispensed in the community and do not take into account any items dispensed by hospitals or hospital based clinics.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the report of the independent consultant on the contracting-out of social work in prisons.

Mr Jim Wallace: The report of the independent consultant on the contracting-out of social work in prisons was published on 24 December 2002.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-25983 and S1W-32018 by Mr Jim Wallace on 29 May and 10 December 2002 respectively and with regard to document Bib. number 25435 in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, why no serious injury assault on a staff member at HM Prison Kilmarnock is recorded for the first quarter of performance year 4.

Hugh Henry: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The incident to which the answer to question S1W-25983 referred is being investigated by the police. Should that investigation result in a prosecution and conviction, the relevant number of performance points will be recorded Schedule F to the Contract defines that, for Performance points purposes, all assaults must be proven on adjudication or by criminal conviction for violence against the person.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25983 by Mr Jim Wallace on 29 May 2002, whether the assault reported in the Metro of 15 May 2002 will be counted towards the key performance indicators of the Scottish Prison Service relating to serious assaults on staff in the year 2002-03 and what the reasons are for the position on the matter.

Hugh Henry: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Yes. The incident met the criteria.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31487 by Mr Jim Wallace on 22 November 2002 and document Bib. number 25002, what the nature was of the incident of failure to comply with agreed reporting procedures in quarter 1 of performance year 4 of the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Hugh Henry: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Staff on a local hospital escort were absent from the recovery room in the early stages of a prisoner regaining consciousness after an operation. That incident was not reported within the timescales prescribed by SPS Incident Reporting Procedures.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31487 and document Bib. number 25002, what the nature was of the incidents of concerted indiscipline in quarter 1 and quarter 2 of performance year 4 of the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Hugh Henry: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Both incidents occurred within one of the houseblocks but involved different groups of prisoners. In the first incident, three prisoners obstructed staff from removing two others who had damaged wing televisions and had thrown items from one floor to another. In the second incident, three prisoners tried to incite others to refuse to return to their cells. Both incidents were resolved relatively quickly and without any injuries.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received about (a) the estimated value of goods, equipment and property that, in the event of the passenger railway franchise changing, a new franchise would be required to acquire (i) in total and (ii) broken down by category of asset and (b) what such items are.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.

  Bidders for the new franchise will receive information on the book value of assets in an Invitation to Tender and supporting documentation (including an accountant’s long form report), which are currently being prepared by the Strategic Rail Authority.

Renewable Energy

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken regarding attitudes towards wind farms among those residing closest to such facilities.

Ross Finnie: The Executive commissioned a study in 2000. It found that those living closest to wind farms were generally more positive about the developments than those who lived further away. However, we have recently been alerted to a flaw in the sample upon which part of the study was based. Despite a subsequent reanalysis which found that the overall results remain very close to those which were originally published, we have decided to commission a new study. The results are expected to be available in the spring of this year.

Renewable Energy

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what study it has made of the use of wind power in Denmark.

Ross Finnie: We have not undertaken any specific study, although we keep up to date in all important areas of wind power development.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30960 by Lewis Macdonald on 6 November 2002 and with regard to the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies A80 Corridor Plan to 2010: Executive Summary, whether its statement that the report "does not contain any recommendations for road tolls or other charges" is accurate and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: The answer given to question S1W-30960 is accurate. I refer the member to the recommendations contained within the consultants’ report.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from Strathdearn Community Council in respect of the Tomatin junction on the A9; if so, what action it intends to take and, in particular, whether it will implement (a) improved lighting, (b) coloured hatched markings similar to those in place at the Moy junction, (c) double white lines, (d) 50 mph speed restriction at a point before the end of the dual carriageway and (e) installation of speed cameras similar to those at the Ballinluig junction.

Lewis Macdonald: Yes, the Strathdearn Community Council wrote to the Executive on 5 December 2002. The answers to your specific queries are:

  (a) there are no plans to install lighting at the Tomatin junctions,

  (b) red infill material within the hatched area at the northern Tomatin junction is programmed for completion (weather permitting) before the end of the financial year,

  (c) there are no plans to install a double white line system,

  (d) there are no plans to lower the speed limit and

  (e) the Safety Camera Partnership rules introduced recently set out accident and speed criteria under which it may be appropriate to install safety cameras. These junctions will be considered as part of any future programme to identify locations to install cameras.

Rural Development

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31495 by Ross Finnie on 25 November 2002, whether it is aware of a letter from it to Mr Daniel Quinn, dated 1 October 2001, reference number of 2001/00263560R, that refers to previous correspondence regarding the eviction of the tenants from Powhillon Farm, Dumfriesshire, on 9 June 1999 and whether it will give an updated position on its involvement in the matter.

Ross Finnie: Following the eviction, Mr Quinn corresponded with officials in the Scottish Executive. The letter highlighted, of 1 October 2001, was a part of that correspondence. However, there is no outstanding correspondence between Mr Quinn and the Executive. It remains the case that the Scottish Executive had no involvement in the eviction.

Rural Development

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31496 by Ross Finnie on 25 November 2002, what information it has received about any complaint relating to the eviction of the tenants from Powhillon Farm, Dumfriesshire, on 9 June 1999 that is currently being considered by Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary; whether it will enquire further into the status of all complaints and investigations in respect of this matter, and whether it will give an updated position in respect of the original question.

Ross Finnie: No complaints relating to this eviction are the subject of investigation by the Scottish Executive. I understand that a complaint has been made against Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and that this is currently under investigation by Dumfries and Galloway Council as the Police Authority for the area. Complaints against the police in Scotland are regulated by statute, principally the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, the Police (Conduct) (Scotland) Regulations 1996 and the Police (Conduct) (Senior Officers) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. In these circumstances, I have nothing further to add.

Rural Development

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how poverty and deprivation in rural communities has been measured and ameliorated by the allocation of funds through the Arbuthnott formula.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Arbuthnott formula uses information about unemployment rates, the proportion of older people on income support, households with multiple indicators of deprivation and mortality rates among people under 65 as indicators of relative deprivation. This information, together with information about the age structure of the population and remoteness is used to determine the allocation of resources between NHS boards. It is of course the responsibility of NHS boards to ensure that the resources made available to them through this formula are then used to address the health care needs of their populations, including people living in relatively deprived areas.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on its Learn to Let Go campaign since the campaign began

Lewis Macdonald: Spend on the Learn to Let Go campaign is as follows:

  


2001-02 
  

£539,100 
  



2002-03 (to date) 
  

£545,000 
  



  Part of this expenditure has been or will be offset against contributions made by public transport operators in Scotland by way of sponsorship of the campaign.

Scottish Executive Departments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the internal organisation of its Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department, detailing the specific roles of divisions within the department.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested about the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department can be found in the Scottish Executive Business Directory, which is available to MSPs.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase the quality and variety of homes in the most disadvantaged areas of the Renfrewshire Council area since 1997.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Since 1997 Communities Scotland has invested £42.205 million to provide 1033 new homes within the Renfrewshire Council area. Over £20 million has been invested in Social Inclusion Partnership areas to provide 732 new or refurbished homes.

  Over the past 12 months Communities Scotland has been actively involved with Renfrewshire Council and members of local communities to develop Area Development Frameworks (ADFs) for a number of areas within Renfrewshire including Shortroods, Moorpark, Ferguslie Park and Foxbar. The ADFs will identify the need for funding resources from Communities Scotland.

  Communities Scotland has also been involved in appraising proposals for the NHP project in Johnstone which will see the development of both social rented housing and housing for sale in the Millar Street area of the town.

  In partnership with Renfrewshire Council and Williamsburgh Housing Association Communities Scotland is currently developing proposals for the regeneration of the Rankine Street area of Johnstone.

Student Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether income under section 2(1) of the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Act 2001 will be treated as additional to money available through the current funding system and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Iain Gray: The Executive will follow section 2 of The Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Act 2001. Income arising from the graduate endowment will be included within the budget proposals in the relevant bill for the Budget Act, for the use of resources, and applied for the purposes of student support.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer when the mechanical and electrical design contract in relation to the construction of the new Parliament building at Holyrood was put out to tender and advertised in the European Journal .

Sir David Steel: The mechanical and electrical element of the design of the new Scottish Parliament building was part of the design competition, which was won by EMBT/RMJM Limited in July 1998. The advertisement for the competition for the Architectural Design Team was placed in the Official Journal of the European Community  (OJEC) in February 1998 and shortlisted candidates were required to come forward with a proposed team, including mechanical and electrical engineers.

Holyrood Project

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will place the security specifications initially envisaged as being necessary for the new Parliament building at Holyrood, as published on the website of the former Scottish Office, in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre and what the reasons are for the position on the matter.

Sir David Steel: I understand that an abbreviated version of the April 1998 version of the Parliament Building User Brief appeared on the Scottish Office Devolution website prior to the project transferring to the Parliament in June 1999. A section on general security issues was contained in that document which covered the security arrangements expected in the building. After reconsideration of the current security implications, I am of the view that no security information about the building should be made more generally accessible than absolutely necessary. I therefore cannot recommend that a copy of that information be placed in Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The Holyrood Project Team can make arrangements for individual members, with legitimate interests, to view the User Brief if required.

Holyrood Project

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what aspects of the security specifications initially envisaged as being necessary for the new Parliament building at Holyrood, as published on the website of the former Scottish Office, have needed to be amended, detailing the (a) date of, (b) reason for and (c) specific benefits gained by each such revision.

Sir David Steel: Since the Parliament assumed responsibility for the Holyrood Project in June 1999, there have been a number of changes to the security section in the Scottish Parliament Building User Brief . For obvious security reasons, details of revisions to that section are treated on a confidential basis, and the information cannot, therefore, be provided as requested. All have had the aim of improving the protection the building offers, however, and enhancing the safety of members, staff and visitors to the Parliament. In particular, changes to the design specification, as supported by the various professional consultants to the project, take advantage of the latest security advice on the practical application of existing guidelines.